Effects of β-Cryptoxanthin on Improvement in Osteoporosis Risk: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Observational Studies

Association between dietary carotenoid intake and vertebral fracture in people aged 50 years and older: a study based on the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

This study discussed the association between dietary intake of carotenoids and vertebral fractures by analyzing the target data, concluding a result of negative association and providing valuable information on vertebral fracture.

OBJECTIVE

This study is to explore the association between dietary intake of carotenoids and vertebral fractures.

METHODS

Data of individuals aged ≥ 50 years from the 2013-2014 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) database were used in this cross-sectional study. Information on dietary carotenoid intake was obtained from the first 24-h dietary recall interview. Vertebral fractures were assessed using dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA). The weighted multivariable logistic regression model was established to assess the association between dietary carotenoid intake and risk of vertebral fracture. Subgroup analysis of fracture history and menopausal status was performed for further analysis of this relationship.

RESULTS

Of the 2053 eligible study subjects, there were 1021 men and 1032 women. Increased β-carotene intake was associated with decreased odds of vertebral fracture in women (odds ratio (OR) = 0.77, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.60-0.99, P = 0.047), after adjusting for covariates. In men without a history of fracture, lutein and zeaxanthin intake was negatively associated with increased odds of vertebral fracture (OR = 0.70, 95% CI 0.50-0.99, P = 0.048). In women without a history of fracture, increased β-carotene intake was associated with decreased odds of vertebral fracture (OR = 0.78, 95% CI 0.61-0.99, P = 0.047). In postmenopausal women, β-carotene intake was also negatively associated with increased odds of vertebral fracture (OR = 0.77, 95% CI 0.60-0.99, P = 0.048).

CONCLUSION

This research concludes a negative association between dietary carotenoid intake, especially β-carotene, and vertebral fractures in women, revealing a potential dietary prevention tactic for vertebral fractures in the future.

Lutein Maintains Bone Mass In Vitro and In Vivo Against Disuse-Induced Bone Loss in Hindlimb-Unloaded Mice

BACKGROUND

Lutein, a carotenoid, exhibits various biological activities such as maintaining the health of the eye, skin, heart, and bone. Recently, we found that lutein has dual roles in suppressing bone resorption and promoting bone formation. In this study, we examined the effects of lutein in a disuse-induced osteoporosis model using hindlimb-unloaded (HLU) mice.

METHODS

Osteoclast differentiation was assessed by coculturing mouse primary osteoblasts and bone marrow cells or culturing a mouse osteoclast precursor cell line. The bone-resorbing activity was determined by mouse calvarial organ cultures. An in situ docking simulation was conducted to reveal the interaction of lutein and IκB kinase (IKK) β protein. HLU mice were fed a 1% lutein-containing diet for two weeks, and the femoral bone mass was measured by μCT.

RESULTS

Osteoclast differentiation is significantly inhibited by lutein, astaxanthin, and β-cryptoxanthin. In contrast, only lutein promoted osteoblastic calcified bone nodule formation. To elucidate the molecular role of lutein, we functionally analyzed the NF-κB complex, a molecule involved in bone metabolism, especially in osteoclasts. Docking simulations showed that lutein binds to IKK, thus inhibiting the activation of NF-κB. In a cell culture analysis, the phosphorylation of p65, the active form of NF-κB in osteoblasts, was suppressed by lutein treatment. In vivo, a μCT analysis of the bone microarchitecture showed that lutein improves several bone parameters while maintaining bone mass.

CONCLUSIONS

Lutein is effective in maintaining bone mass by controlling both bone resorption and formation, which is applied to prevent disuse-induced osteoporosis.

The Plasma Metabolome and Risk of Incident Kidney Stones

Key Points

Information on metabolomic profiles in kidney stone formers is limited. This article describes investigations of associations between plasma metabolomic profiles and the risk of incident, symptomatic kidney stones. Three novel metabolites had negative associations with kidney stones: β -cryptoxanthin and two forms of sphingomyelin.

Background

Information on metabolomic profiles in kidney stone formers is limited. To examine independent associations between plasma metabolomic profiles and the risk of incident, symptomatic kidney stones in adults, we conducted prospective nested case-control studies in two large cohorts.

Methods

We performed plasma metabolomics on 1758 participants, including 879 stone formers (346 from the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study [HPFS] cohort, 533 from the Nurses' Health Study [NHS] II cohort) and 879 non–stone formers (346 from HPFS, 533 from NHS II) matched for age, race, time of blood collection, fasting status, and (for NHS II) menopausal status and luteal day of menstrual cycle for premenopausal participants. Conditional logistic regression models were used to estimate the odds ratio (OR) of kidney stones adjusted for body mass index; hypertension; diabetes; thiazide use; and intake of potassium, animal protein, oxalate, dietary and supplemental calcium, caffeine, and alcohol. A plasma metabolite–based score was developed in each cohort in a conditional logistic regression model with a lasso penalty. The scores derived in the HPFS (“kidney stones metabolite score [KMS]_HPFS”) and the NHS II (“KMS_NHS”) were tested for their association with kidney stone risk in the other cohort.

Results

A variety of individual metabolites were associated with incident kidney stone formation at prespecified levels of metabolome-wide statistical significance. We identified three metabolites associated with kidney stones in both HPFS and NHS II cohorts: β -cryptoxanthin, sphingomyelin (d18:2/24:1, d18:1/24:2), and sphingomyelin (d18:2/24:2). The standardized KMS_HPFS yielded an OR of 1.23 (95% confidence interval, 1.05 to 1.44) for stones in the NHS II cohort. The standardized KMS_NHS was in the expected direction but did not reach statistical significance in HPFS (OR, 1.16; 95% confidence interval, 0.97 to 1.39).

Conclusions

The findings of specific metabolites associated with kidney stone status in two cohorts and a plasma metabolomic signature offer a novel approach to characterize stone formers.

Plasma metabolomics signatures of developmental dysplasia of the hip in Tibet plateau

BACKGROUND

Developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) is a common childhood health complaint, whose etiology is multifactorial. The incidence of DDH is variable and higher in Tibet plateau. Here, we collected plasma samples and studied the metabolomics signatures of DDH.

METHODS

Fifty babies were enrolled: 25 with DDH and 25 age-matched non-DDH healthy controls (HC group). We collected plasma samples, laboratory parameters and conducted untargeted metabolomics profiling.

RESULTS

There are many differential metabolites among patients with DDH, including 4-β-hydroxymethyl-4-α-methyl-5-α-cholest-7-en-3-beta-ol, β-cryptoxanthin, α-tocopherol, taurocholic acid, glycocholic acid, 2-(3,4-dihydroxybenzoyloxy)-4,6-dihydroxybenzoate, arabinosylhypoxanthine, leucyl-hydroxyproline, hypoxanthine. The main differential metabolic pathways focused on primary bile acid biosynthesis, arginine and proline metabolism, phenylalanine metabolism, histidine metabolism, purine metabolism.

CONCLUSIONS

To our knowledge, this is the first report of metabolomics profile in babies with DHH. By combining the α-tocopherol and taurocholic acid, we could achieve the differential diagnosis of DDH.

Nutraceuticals and Functional Foods: A Comprehensive Review of Their Role in Bone Health

Bone health is the result of a tightly regulated balance between bone modeling and bone remodeling, and alterations of these processes have been observed in several diseases both in adult and pediatric populations. The imbalance in bone remodeling can ultimately lead to osteoporosis, which is most often associated with aging, but contributing factors can already act during the developmental age, when over a third of bone mass is accumulated. The maintenance of an adequate bone mass is influenced by genetic and environmental factors, such as physical activity and diet, and particularly by an adequate intake of calcium and vitamin D. In addition, it has been claimed that the integration of specific nutraceuticals such as resveratrol, anthocyanins, isoflavones, lycopene, curcumin, lutein, and β-carotene and the intake of bioactive compounds from the diet such as honey, tea, dried plums, blueberry, and olive oil can be efficient strategies for bone loss prevention. Nutraceuticals and functional foods are largely used to provide medical or health benefits, but there is an urge to determine which products have adequate clinical evidence and a strong safety profile. The aim of this review is to explore the scientific and clinical evidence of the positive role of nutraceuticals and functional food in bone health, focusing both on molecular mechanisms and on real-world studies.

A molecular index for biological age identified from the metabolome and senescence-associated secretome in humans

Unlike chronological age, biological age is a strong indicator of health of an individual. However, the molecular fingerprint associated with biological age is ill-defined. To define a high-resolution signature of biological age, we analyzed metabolome, circulating senescence-associated secretome (SASP)/inflammation markers and the interaction between them, from a cohort of healthy and rapid agers. The balance between two fatty acid oxidation mechanisms, β-oxidation and ω-oxidation, associated with the extent of functional aging. Furthermore, a panel of 25 metabolites, Healthy Aging Metabolic (HAM) index, predicted healthy agers regardless of gender and race. HAM index was also validated in an independent cohort. Causal inference with machine learning implied three metabolites, β-cryptoxanthin, prolylhydroxyproline, and eicosenoylcarnitine as putative drivers of biological aging. Multiple SASP markers were also elevated in rapid agers. Together, our findings reveal that a network of metabolic pathways underlie biological aging, and the HAM index could serve as a predictor of phenotypic aging in humans.

The role of carotenoids in bone health-A narrative review

Osteoporosis constitutes a serious challenge for public health. Dietary patterns belong to important, modifiable risk factors of this disease. Therefore, what and in what quantities we consume on a daily basis are extremely relevant. It is commonly known that bone health is positively affected by vitamins (e.g., vitamin D and vitamin K) as well as mineral components (e.g., calcium and magnesium). However, the human diet consists of many other groups of compounds that exhibit a potential antiosteoporotic and supporting bone-building effect. These dietary components include carotenoids. This paper presents a broad review of studies on the influence of particular carotenoids (β-carotene, lutein, zeaxanthin, β-cryptoxanthin, and lycopene) on bones. The paper discusses up-to-date in vitro experiments and research on animal models and presents how the results translate into clinical effect in humans.

Comprehensive Update on Carotenoid Colorants from Plants and Microalgae: Challenges and Advances from Research Laboratories to Industry

The substitution of synthetic food dyes with natural colorants continues to be assiduously pursued. The current list of natural carotenoid colorants consists of plant-derived annatto (bixin and norbixin), paprika (capsanthin and capsorubin), saffron (crocin), tomato and gac fruit lycopene, marigold lutein, and red palm oil (α- and β-carotene), along with microalgal Dunaliella β-carotene and Haematococcus astaxanthin and fungal Blakeslea trispora β-carotene and lycopene. Potential microalgal sources are being sought, especially in relation to lutein, for which commercial plant sources are lacking. Research efforts, manifested in numerous reviews and research papers published in the last decade, have been directed to green extraction, microencapsulation/nanoencapsulation, and valorization of processing by-products. Extraction is shifting from conventional extraction with organic solvents to supercritical CO2 extraction and different types of assisted extraction. Initially intended for the stabilization of the highly degradable carotenoids, additional benefits of encapsulation have been demonstrated, especially the improvement of carotenoid solubility and bioavailability. Instead of searching for new higher plant sources, enormous effort has been directed to the utilization of by-products of the fruit and vegetable processing industry, with the application of biorefinery and circular economy concepts. Amidst enormous research activities, however, the gap between research and industrial implementation remains wide.

Should We 'Eat a Rainbow'? An Umbrella Review of the Health Effects of Colorful Bioactive Pigments in Fruits and Vegetables

Health promotion campaigns have advocated for individuals to 'eat a rainbow' of fruits and vegetables (FV). However, the literature has only focused on individual color pigments or individual health outcomes. This umbrella review synthesized the evidence on the health effects of a variety of color-associated bioactive pigments found in FV (carotenoids, flavonoids, betalains and chlorophylls), compared to placebo or low intakes. A systematic search of PubMed, EMBASE, CINAHL and CENTRAL was conducted on 20 October 2021, without date limits. Meta-analyzed outcomes were evaluated for certainty via the GRADE system. Risk of bias was assessed using the Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine critical appraisal tools. A total of 86 studies were included, 449 meta-analyzed health outcomes, and data from over 37 million participants were identified. A total of 42% of health outcomes were improved by color-associated pigments (91% GRADE rating very low to low). Unique health effects were identified: n = 6 red, n = 10 orange, n = 3 yellow, n = 6 pale yellow, n = 3 white, n = 8 purple/blue and n = 1 green. Health outcomes associated with multiple color pigments were body weight, lipid profile, inflammation, cardiovascular disease, mortality, type 2 diabetes and cancer. Findings show that color-associated FV variety may confer additional benefits to population health beyond total FV intake.